Chapter 168 The Man Behind the Scenes
"Bang——"
The frail figure fell heavily to the ground in front of Klein.
His heart seemed to fall along with it and sink to the bottom of the valley.
It wasn't until Angel slowly got up in the rising dust and staggered towards him that he breathed a sigh of relief and felt the severe pain in his left arm again.
Doesn't she have the ability of "lightness"? How could she fall directly from such a high place?
Klein was curious as to why the other party didn't use the "Assassin"'s lightness to slowly descend, but instead fell to the ground like a free fall. Fortunately, the stone slabs on the ground had been lifted up by the bomb, leaving the ground mostly soft soil. Otherwise, falling from a height of more than ten meters, even a Beyonder would be half dead.
But after seeing the injuries on Angel's body, Klein's heart, which had just been relieved, began to hang in the air again.
Her face was covered in blood and dust. The light-colored dress that should have been exquisite and decent was now full of tears, stained with blood and dust, and dyed brown. The wound across her abdomen continued to ooze blood, continuing to soak the long dress.
The right hand from the elbow down became charred black, and the original shape of the palm could not be seen, as if the five fingers were melted together.
The fall just now also caused her considerable damage. Angel's left shoulder was twisted at an unnatural angle, her entire left arm was limply hanging at her side, her steps were unsteady, and she had to pause after taking a few steps.
Only her purple eyes remained clear.
"Where's your hand? Let me see if I can get it back. Hurry up, the pocket watch is about to expire."
Angel's hoarse voice came, completely different from usual.
Klein moved his lips, not knowing what to say. He then turned around, trying to find his forearm that had been severed in the battle.
He suddenly remembered the captain's action of ripping open his chest and using his own blood to feed Saint Selina's ashes to activate the power of the saint's relics.
"Save the captain first, he's more seriously injured!"
He shouted anxiously, not bothering to look for the broken arm.
Now only "Damage Transfer" can save Dunn!
Angel was stunned, glanced at Klein's left elbow, which was still dripping with blood, and nodded hesitantly.
Angel staggered to the side of Dunn Smith, who was lying limply with the urn still in his arms. He squatted down, put his charred right arm on his dislocated left hand, and touched his chest, which was still gushing with blood.
Klein stood behind her, looking at the two of them anxiously and expectantly.
After a moment, Angel stood up again and turned around, his face covered in dust and blood with no expression.
Suddenly, fear welled up in her purple eyes.
Is it a success or a failure?
Klein looked at the other person in confusion, then remembered the time limit and negative effects of the "Magic Pocket Watch".
Could it be the time on the pocket watch...
He felt a pain in his chest, as if his heart was being grabbed.
The captain still couldn't be saved?
No, this is not an illusion.
Klein's pupils constricted, and he lowered his head to look at his chest.
A slightly pale hand pierced through his left chest, stained with blood.
Who was it? The Rose Bishop who had suddenly appeared? But he was already dead, reduced to a shapeless mass of flesh and blood.
Is it Megose who has eaten two Yangyan Talismans but is still not dead?
She also died along with the evil offspring in her belly.
The hand suddenly pulled back.
Countless thoughts flashed through Klein's mind, and then his thoughts collapsed. His legs lost strength, and he fell to the ground sideways.
In his almost out-of-focus vision, a pair of brand new, shiny leather boots stepped over his body and walked towards Dunn, who was lying motionless on the ground, and Angel, who was rushing towards him angrily.
His thoughts and breathing almost stopped. Klein stared blankly as Angel supported his left arm with his right hand and stabbed the dark-blond man with a dagger. However, the man easily dodged it and held the dagger with his backhand, stabbing her in the chest.
The thin body fell on its back, stirring up a cloud of dust.
The man in the frock coat half-knelt down and took the urn of Saint Selina from the captain's arms.
Klein's eyes went dark, and all his senses disappeared.
…
A few minutes later, Leonard Mitchell, who was leaning against the stone podium, shook his body and slowly opened his eyes.
In the thick smell of blood that was almost impossible to dissipate, he struggled to get up and looked around.
In the devastated park, he saw countless broken limbs and countless innocent citizens with their eyes wide open, dying with their eyes open.
He saw Megose, whose head had disappeared, limbs had melted into a ball, and whose abdomen was pierced.
He saw Dunn Smith lying motionless on the ground with his shoulder covered in blood. He also saw Klein Moretti lying on his side with a hole in his chest. His left arm had disappeared below the elbow, but he was still struggling to reach forward.
He saw Angel Granger with a dagger stuck in his chest, his right hand as black as charcoal, and his clothes in tatters.
No... not really...
Leonard had a voice inside him that kept denying it all.
He staggered towards his teammates, walked back and forth beside several corpses, constantly verifying, but in the end he could only accept the reality that could not be changed.
“No…no…no!”
He kept repeating this word in his throat, kneeling on his knees, tears streaming down his face.
After an unknown amount of time, his neck trembled, he listened with his ears tilted, then he clenched his teeth and let out a suppressed roar.
The "Manufactured Punishers" team, who had just arrived by taking a shortcut in their carriage and carrying the Sealed Artifact into the park, were so frightened by the roar that sounded like hell that they stood still, at a loss as to what to do.
————
On Red Moon Street, in a hired carriage slowly driving towards the steam train station, a pale hand opened the notebook on its knees and quickly flipped back from the first page.
After turning over the part filled with beautiful handwriting, a page with almost the entire page of text scribbled out appeared.
(It's almost entirely painted black.)
"Cole Granger luckily survived the loss of control during her promotion. She eliminated some of her extraordinary characteristics and became an assassin again, a female assassin."
"Miss Granger, having come to her senses, reported herself and her supervisor, Madam Sharon. This attracted the attention of the Nighthawks. Dunn Smith led a team to investigate the case, and Daly Simone, who happened to be in Tingen City, accompanied them."
"Dunne, who had been working overtime to resolve numerous occult cases, neglected to keep the secret. Madam Sharon's spies noticed Angel Granger's movements. After a simple divination, she decided to go to Blackthorn Security Company in person to resolve this problem. With the Tingen team almost fully deployed and their rear defenses weak, this was a reasonable choice."
(A few lines were scribbled)
"With the help of Angel Granger and her combat prowess, which surpassed that of an assassin, the Nighthawks killed the intruding Lady Sharon. Sadly, Daly survived."
…
(Smudged half the page)
"Klein, who was supposed to die in the warehouse, survived again. With the help of Angel, who was also supposed to die there, he killed the magician of the Secret Order."
"But things still went smoothly. Dunn came into contact with the Antigonus family's notes and was secretly contaminated."
"No matter what, this person who repeatedly sabotages Ince Zangwill's plans must leave Tingen City immediately."
…
(Line after line of text was blacked out, more than the previous ones combined)
"Dunne Smith's condition has improved significantly. He has mastered the 'Acting Method', found his own rules for acting, and started digesting the potion quickly, which has reduced the contamination he previously suffered."
"Angel Granger, eager for a promotion, was supposed to have secretly taken the Instigator potion after leaving the Tingen team's sight and subsequently died from the loss of control caused by the remaining contamination. However, she returned to Tingen City alive and revealed the method of impersonation to her captain. Ince was puzzled by this, but he could only accept reality."
“The story has taken a new turn.”
…
"Azik, who harbored many secrets, noticed traces of Ince's influence on Angel and warned him, just as he had once warned Klein."
"The two survivors used the information they had gathered to begin searching for the 'Red Chimney House' separately. Although they often chose routes that didn't include their target, delaying their search for the truth, this still disrupted Ince's plans. He had to speed up his pace."
…
"Mitis, the Witch of Pleasure, whose lover died at the hands of Angel, has been searching for an opportunity to kill her enemy. She collaborates with the Aurora Messengers, who, inspired by the Creator, have infiltrated Tingen City to deal with their common enemy, the Nighthawks."
"Ince felt they could be a help to him, and the kind-hearted Ince didn't mind giving them a hand."
…
"Mitis contacted Maynard, a New Party councilman aspiring to be mayor. After helping him defeat his political opponents, she secured a contract to renovate the central park on Red Moon Street in the North District. This also made her spirituality increasingly unstable, but the tormented Witch of Pleasure just wanted to end it all quickly."
"At the same time, Ms. D of the Aurora Society was raising funds to welcome the arrival of the gods. Her subordinate, Gabriel, left a clue during a robbery of a wealthy person and was caught by the Nighthawks."
"Angel met Gabrio on his way to the bank to deposit money and recognized him. The Nighthawks confirmed the Aurora Society's hiding place through divination."
"The Red Gloves arrived as planned. They stormed Ms. D's residence. After a fierce battle, Ms. D managed to escape, diverting the Red Gloves' attention to the outskirts of Tingen. Mr. C, who was hiding behind them, continued their secret plan."
"At the same time, Lanevus has once again entered the sight of the Nighthawks. Soon, the Nighthawks will find the clues he left behind."
…
(About half a page of content)
"Dun Smith is digesting the potion faster than Ince expected. This means he will soon complete his role as Nightmare and become a Sequence 6 Requiem Master. His accumulated contributions over the years have long exceeded the requirements for advancement."
"Ince must speed up his plans."
"Klein and Angel decided to submit a special application at the suggestion of Daly, who had briefly returned to Tingen City. They will teach the acting method to their other teammates before taking the oath. This is consistent with their personalities and is very reasonable."
"This will allow the senior deacons who come to Tingen for examination to follow the procedures and question all the night watchmen who know how to act."
"Neal, contaminated by the Hidden Sage, exposed himself during the High Deacon's examination. Dunn was forced to kill his teammate himself. This shook his steadfast principles, destabilized his spirituality, and delayed his advancement. Fortunately, Ince Zangwill gained precious time."
…
"The grand venue arranged by Mr. C and Mitis has attracted the baby in Megose's womb. Guided by the baby, she will travel to the renovated central park in the North District and give birth to a divine child through sacrifice."
"While passing by the Blackthorn Security Company, Megose happened to remember the fortune teller who had helped her before, so she went there and attracted the attention of the Nighthawks."
"The calm Dunn Smith tried to lead them into Chanis Gate, using the environment and items to his advantage, but Megose felt the call again and prepared to head to the park immediately."
"The Nighthawks had to choose between self-preservation and a life-and-death battle. Dunn took out Saint Selina's ashes and, along with Klein and Leonard, headed to the park to stop Megose. This was their style, and it made perfect sense."
…
(Several lines have been erased)
"Mr. C detonated a bomb buried underground during the renovations. However, due to interference from Angel, who had received advance warning through unknown means, the planned number of offerings in the park was not reached. This would have weakened the baby in Megose's belly, but this perfectly matched Ince's plan. Yes, perfectly! He wasn't planning on letting a true god descend upon Tingen City."
"The battle between Megose, transformed into a monster, and the Nighthawks began. Aided by the Saint's ashes, the Blood Vessel Thief, and a strangely appearing high-level spell, the Nighthawks severely damaged Megose. Angel's strange bullet simultaneously killed the out-of-control Mitis, Mr. C, who had sacrificed himself, and the God's descendant, who was about to descend in an incomplete form."
"Dunne Smith died in the battle, and Saint Selina's ashes were severely damaged. Angel Granger, in order to preserve her spirituality, used magical items to save her teammates, falling directly from a great height, which deprived her of her final fighting power. Ince was a little frustrated that he didn't get the opportunity to fight her head-on, but this did not affect his goal."
"He respected Mitis's wishes and killed Klein first, then the other. After dealing with the pair who always disrupted his plans, Ince took Saint Selina's ashes, passed by the Mandated Punishers who had arrived late to activate the Seal, and left the scene."
…
The notebook turned to a blank page. A middle-aged man with dark blond hair, a blind eye, and deep features picked up a classical-style feather pen and wrote a sentence in the blank space:
"The story of Tingen City is coming to an end."
Closing his notebook, he looked out the window with his deep blue monocular. Two carriages with police logos passed by. Inside the open doors, he could see teams of "Mechanical Heart" members, fully armed and with serious expressions.
"It seems something big happened in the new park we just passed. There was smoke and explosions. Do you know what happened?"
The coachman also looked at the police carriage curiously, and then asked from the front window.
"It seems that a group of bad guys wanted to blow up the park and even the city of Tingen. Many people died there."
Ince Zangwill had not wanted to answer the driver who had casually spoken to him, but he was in a good mood today, so he decided to chat with him.
"Wow, that's impressive, impressive. But I don't see you're worried at all. Maybe someone managed to stop them?"
The young driver asked in surprise, his right eye narrowing involuntarily.
A mocking smile appeared at the corner of Ins's drooping mouth.
"Yeah, they saved Tingen."
It's hard to separate the two chapters, so I posted them together...
If nothing unexpected happens, there will be no more today.
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